Reclaim Your Strength: Simple At-Home Exercise for Cancer Patients and Survivors

Whether you are in the middle of treatment or years into survivorship, your movement and strength are foundational to both the length and quality of your life. Oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke breaks down a simple, targeted exercise you can do right at home –– no gym required and no marathon training necessary.

Meet Dr. Leslie Waltke

Leslie Waltke is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in oncology rehabilitation. Her work focuses on helping patients with cancer and survivors at every stage of their journey, from active treatment to long-term survivorship, regain their strength, balance and mobility through safe, evidence-informed movement.

Why Movement Matters More Than You Think

Waltke makes one thing clear from the start: Movement matters for everyone, whether you are in your 20s or your 80s. And counterintuitively, the more challenged, weak, sick or heavily treated you are, the more critical these exercises become. This isn’t about pushing through pain or chasing performance goals. It is about reclaiming function, steadying your balance and feeling powerful in your own skin again.

The Wall Push-Up

This featured exercise is the wall push-up, a simple but effective move that builds upper back and chest strength essential for posture, daily function and overall stability. To perform it, find a stable wall or door that won’t move, and place your hands slightly below chest level at roughly a 45-degree angle. Stand at a comfortable distance from the wall, then lower your nose toward the wall while keeping your body in a straight line, and push back out to the starting position. If it feels too challenging, simply step closer to the wall to reduce the difficulty. Aim for five to 10 repetitions to start, and as you grow stronger, work your way up to 15 to 30.

How to Progress Over Time

Waltke recommends a clear progression in the exercise as it becomes easier. Once you have mastered the wall push-up at 30 repetitions, move to a countertop, which is lower and adds more challenge, targeting the same 15 to 30 rep range. From there, half push-ups on your knees on the floor offer an even greater challenge and continue building both upper back and chest strength.

How Often Should You Do It?

When it comes to frequency, Waltke recommends that if the exercise feels challenging, aim to do it four to five times per week with five to 15 repetitions per session until your strength improves. Once it starts to feel easier, scaling back to two to three times per week is generally recommended to maintain and continue building strength. The key is consistency: Small, regular efforts compound into real, lasting results.

Who This Is For

This content is built for patients with cancer and survivors of all ages and fitness levels, whether you are currently in treatment or well into your survivorship journey. Follow along here on CURE as Waltke shares exercises to help you move better, feel stronger and live more fully.

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